COVID-19 Office Safety Procedures
Stillwaters Counselling is taking the following precautions, as directed by BC Provincial Health, WorkSafe BC and our Professional Counselling Associations. We want to do our part to protect our clients and counsellors and help to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. We also recognize that several of our existing and potential clients are either unable to utilize e-Therapy modalities or they strongly prefer in-person appointments.
The physically safest modality for counselling is e-Therapy and each Stillwaters counsellor will continue to offer appointments online. For clients who choose in-person appointments, please note the following new procedures:
• The office has been re-arranged to accommodate physically safe distancing.
• Two meters (6 feet) between people will be maintained during the time in the counselling room. Masks must be worn whenever there is the possibility of close contact, such as at the entrance and in the hallway. There is signage throughout the office to remind everyone of this requirement. Physical contact is not permitted.
• Usually, only one counsellor is using the office at a time. There is an additional counselling room which meets COVID safety precautions. There is a possibility that two counsellors and their client(s) may be using the office at the same time. Appointments are scheduled at specific intervals to minimize the number of people in the office. As a result, the availability of in-person appointments is reduced.
• There is signage on the office door to remind people to complete a COVID health check before entering the office. The appointment will be cancelled or will be moved to an online modality if either counsellor or client has any signs of a contagious illness. There is an additional consent form in the office for in-person appointments to indicate the new procedures.
• All clients must wait in their vehicle or outside Stillwaters until no earlier than 5 minutes before their appointment times. The door will be kept locked until just prior to the appointment and locked during the appointment to restrict visitors.
• Counsellors and clients will each supply their own masks.
• Everyone is asked to sanitize their hands before and after the appointment.
• Alcohol-based hand rub is available at the main entrance, near the washroom, in the counselling rooms, and the waiting room.
• Areas that are commonly touched are sanitized after each appointment.
Thank you for your compliance and understanding.
The physically safest modality for counselling is e-Therapy and each Stillwaters counsellor will continue to offer appointments online. For clients who choose in-person appointments, please note the following new procedures:
• The office has been re-arranged to accommodate physically safe distancing.
• Two meters (6 feet) between people will be maintained during the time in the counselling room. Masks must be worn whenever there is the possibility of close contact, such as at the entrance and in the hallway. There is signage throughout the office to remind everyone of this requirement. Physical contact is not permitted.
• Usually, only one counsellor is using the office at a time. There is an additional counselling room which meets COVID safety precautions. There is a possibility that two counsellors and their client(s) may be using the office at the same time. Appointments are scheduled at specific intervals to minimize the number of people in the office. As a result, the availability of in-person appointments is reduced.
• There is signage on the office door to remind people to complete a COVID health check before entering the office. The appointment will be cancelled or will be moved to an online modality if either counsellor or client has any signs of a contagious illness. There is an additional consent form in the office for in-person appointments to indicate the new procedures.
• All clients must wait in their vehicle or outside Stillwaters until no earlier than 5 minutes before their appointment times. The door will be kept locked until just prior to the appointment and locked during the appointment to restrict visitors.
• Counsellors and clients will each supply their own masks.
• Everyone is asked to sanitize their hands before and after the appointment.
• Alcohol-based hand rub is available at the main entrance, near the washroom, in the counselling rooms, and the waiting room.
• Areas that are commonly touched are sanitized after each appointment.
Thank you for your compliance and understanding.